Comparison guide · 2026
Assistantly vs BELAY:
costs, pros and cons
Assistantly and BELAY both match you with a vetted assistant and stay involved after the match, so the choice comes down to where the talent sits and how you buy the time. BELAY is a managed service that matches you with one U.S.-based contractor, typically from 45 hours a month. It doesn't publish prices for assistant support, and outside estimates put it at $42 to $46 an hour.
Assistantly publishes its price: most full-time roles cost $2,500 to $3,000 a month, set by the person's rate plus benefits. Every candidate completes a Day One™ simulation of your role before you meet your top three, placements start with a three-month commitment, and a Fresh Eyes™ review at two weeks shows early whether the match is working.
Choose BELAY
For 10 to 20 hours a week of U.S.-based support
BELAY picks the match, and a Client Success Consultant stays on the account.
Choose Assistantly
For a dedicated, full-time senior operator
Every candidate completes a simulation of the role before you meet them.
At a glance
Assistantly vs BELAY
The biggest differences are where the talent sits, how you buy the time, and what a full-time workload ends up costing.
| Factor | Assistantly | BELAYManaged service |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Placement of proven mid-to-senior operators | Managed service that matches you with one U.S.-based contractor |
| Who you get | The finalist you choose from your top three | One recommended match, met on a kickoff call |
| Who vets | A Day One™ simulation built around your role, reviewed by a person | BELAY, which says it accepts “the top 3% of U.S.-based applicants”; the steps aren't published |
| Price | Published: most full-time roles start at $2,500 to $3,000 a month | Not published for assistant support; outside estimates put it at $42 to $46 an hour. Two social media packages are published, from $2,070 and $4,500 a month |
| Hours | Full-time roles, matched to your team's hours | Fractional, typically from 45 hours a month; Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 in the assistant's time zone |
| Time to match | You get finalists with rates in 72 hours | “As little as one week” after a discovery call |
| Employment admin | Contracts, payroll, compliance, and benefits handled | You contract with BELAY; assistants are independent contractors |
| Commitment | Three-month initial commitment | Month-to-month, no long-term contract |
| If it isn't working | Fresh Eyes™ review at two weeks; quality guarantee for as long as you work with us | Right-Fit Guarantee: rematch at no additional cost, with concerns raised within 30 days |
| Best for | A full-time operator with proof up front | Part-time, U.S.-based support with the matching done for you |
Head to head
Fractional match vs full-time placement
BELAY does the choosing for you and sells the time in monthly blocks. Assistantly shows you the price and the candidates' work first, then places one person full time.
Cost
Assistantly publishes its range: most full-time roles cost $2,500 to $3,000 a month, and senior or specialized roles run higher. The operator names their own rate, benefits are added on top, and the number sits on every finalist's profile before you interview (pricing).
BELAY publishes starting prices only for two social media packages. For assistant support it describes “a flat monthly pricing structure” and quotes after a discovery call. Outside estimates put BELAY at $42 to $46 an hour: a client of three years puts it at about $42 an hour as of September 2026, and Forbes Advisor lists $46 an hour as of October 2026. Competitor blogs stretch the range to $50. BELAY hasn't confirmed any of these figures.
At those rates the comparison turns on hours. BELAY's typical 45-hour start works out to about $1,890 to $2,070 a month, below Assistantly's range. A full-time workload is a different picture.
| Monthly hours | BELAYEstimated $42 to $46 an hour | AssistantlyPublished $2,500 to $3,000 a month |
|---|---|---|
| 45 hours (BELAY's typical start) | About $1,890 to $2,070 | Not sold by the hour |
| 60 hours | About $2,520 to $2,760 | Not sold by the hour |
| About 87 hours (20 a week) | About $3,650 to $4,000 | Not sold by the hour |
| About 173 hours (full time) | About $7,280 to $7,960 | $2,500 to $3,000 for most roles |
BELAY figures are our arithmetic on outside estimates BELAY has not confirmed. Assistantly figures are the published range.
Vetting and quality
Assistantly's vetting has three parts: background screenings, video interviews and a timed task simulation. The simulation is built around your role (we call it Day One™), a person on the team reviews every result, and you meet your top three with their work in hand.
BELAY says it accepts “the top 3% of U.S.-based applicants” and that “only 3% of applicants ever become BELAY contractors.” It describes matching as done “with purpose, not algorithms” and reports a “93% first-match success rate.” The pages checked don't describe the screening steps behind the 3% for assistant roles; the one role BELAY spells out is its financial-advisory Client Services Assistant, “vetted, background-checked, and identity-verified.”
The practical difference is what you see before you commit. BELAY recommends one match, and you meet them on a kickoff call. Assistantly shows you three finalists with their simulation results, and each person's rate is on their profile.
Time and effort
BELAY does the sorting: a discovery call, then “a Client Success Consultant scopes your engagement and finds the right fit from there,” and “most clients are matched with a BELAY Virtual Assistant in as little as one week.”
Assistantly asks for one call to scope the role, then shows you finalists with their rates in 72 hours; you interview and choose, and Assistantly handles contracts, payroll, compliance and benefits from there.
Flexibility and commitment
BELAY support “runs month-to-month, not on a long-term contract, and you can scale hours up or down as your needs change,” from a floor that “typically begins at 45 hours a month.”
Assistantly placements start with a three-month commitment, which gives the hire a real chance to deliver and gives the two-week and 90-day checks time to do their work. For a role that needs 10 to 20 hours a week, BELAY's model fits better; for a full-time seat, the three months buy stability.
What happens if a hire doesn't work out
BELAY's Right-Fit Guarantee says that “if your first assistant match is not working, BELAY will rematch you at no extra cost,” that “if concerns are raised within 30 days, BELAY coordinates the rematch and transition process,” and that rematches are “typically handled in days rather than weeks.” A Client Success Consultant stays involved after placement. BELAY's pages don't publish a refund policy or a limit on rematches.
Assistantly replaces a hire who stops being the right fit for as long as you work with us, and it puts the noticing on a schedule: every hire shares a Fresh Eyes™ review at two weeks, so a weak match surfaces before it gets expensive, and the success team runs a 90-day plan with you after that.
Compliance and classification
With both services you contract with the company, not the assistant. BELAY's assistants are U.S.-based independent contractors in “flexible, remote 1099 roles.”
Assistantly handles contracts, payroll, compliance and benefits for its operators, who work from more than 38 countries, so the employment admin sits with Assistantly rather than with you.
Provider one
What is BELAY?
BELAY is a U.S. company matching busy leaders with U.S.-based assistants and financial professionals. Bryan and Shannon Miles founded it in 2010, and Tricia Sciortino leads it as CEO. BELAY says it has served “over 25,000 busy leaders” and keeps a bench of “2,000+ vetted, U.S.-based professionals.”
BELAY offers assistants for executive, operations, marketing, sales, personal and social media work. Its finance side covers bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, tax, fractional controller and fractional CFO services.
How BELAY works
BELAY does the matching for you. “It starts with a discovery call,” which BELAY uses “to understand your workflow, priorities, and leadership style.” A Client Success Consultant then “scopes your engagement and finds the right fit from there.” BELAY says it matches “with purpose, not algorithms,” and that only “the top 3% of U.S.-based applicants” make its bench.
You don't interview a slate. BELAY recommends one match, and says “most clients are matched with a BELAY Virtual Assistant in as little as one week,” with a “93% first-match success rate.”
Assistants are U.S.-based independent contractors, not BELAY employees, and “work Monday-Friday between 9-5 p.m. in their time zone.” Support “runs month-to-month,” hours can scale up or down, and it “typically begins at 45 hours a month”; “many leaders start their Executive Assistant at 10 to 20 hours a week.”
BELAY pricing in 2026
BELAY publishes a price for two of its services and not for the rest. Its social media page lists packages starting at $2,070 a month for 45 to 60 hours, about $35 to $46 an hour, and Operator Support from “4,500 / month” for “60–100 hrs/month,” about $45 to $75 an hour at the starting price (our arithmetic). For executive and virtual assistant support it describes “a flat monthly pricing structure,” says “BELAY isn't built to compete on rock-bottom price,” and quotes after a call.
Outside estimates put assistant support at $42 to $46 an hour: a client of three years reports about $42 an hour (updated September 2026), and Forbes Advisor lists $46 an hour (October 2026), drawn from forum posts and customer reviews. BELAY hasn't confirmed any of them.
BELAY's own cost guide says U.S.-based virtual assistants charge $30 to $75 per hour, or $1,200 to $3,000 a month for part-time support, and that “services like BELAY may cost more up front” (BELAY).
BELAY pros
- Onshore talent. Every assistant works in the U.S., which suits client-facing work and U.S. business hours.
- Done-for-you matching. A discovery call, then one recommended match, so you skip sorting applicants.
- Support after placement. “A dedicated BELAY Client Success Consultant” and “regular check-ins.”
- Month-to-month terms. No long-term contract, and hours scale up or down as needs change.
- Assistants and finance under one roof. Bookkeeping, payroll, tax and fractional CFO services sit next to assistant support.
BELAY cons
- No published price for assistant support. You hear the number after a sales call; only the social media packages carry a starting price.
- A 30-day window on the guarantee. The Right-Fit Guarantee covers a rematch, but the guarantee page ties the process to “concerns raised within 30 days,” and no refund policy or rematch limit is published.
- One match, not a shortlist. BELAY recommends a single candidate, so you can't compare finalists or see their work before the match is made.
- Screening steps aren't published. BELAY cites the top 3% figure but doesn't say what the steps are for assistant roles.
- Higher starting point for part-time. Support typically begins at 45 hours a month.
- Part-time by design. At outside estimates, a full-time workload runs about $7,280 to $7,960 a month.
BELAY reviews
- 3.8/5Trustpilot
- 63Reviews
- 67%Five stars
- 16%One star
On Trustpilot, 67% of BELAY's reviewers give five stars and 16% give one; the newest review when we checked on October 31, 2026 was a two-star review titled “Execution fell short.” BELAY has “replied to 92% of negative reviews” and “typically replies within 24 hours.” Review-site figures move, so treat them as sentiment, not fact.
Comparing more providers? See our list of BELAY alternatives.
Provider two
What is Assistantly?
A full-time operator with a success team behind the hire, for about what 55 to 70 hours a month would cost at BELAY's estimated rate.
BELAY is built for part-time, hourly support. Once a role needs someone most of the week, the math changes: BELAY's estimated 45-hour start is $1,890 to $2,070 a month and a full-time workload is about $7,280 to $7,960, while most full-time roles at Assistantly cost $2,500 to $3,000 a month for a dedicated, experienced operator.
Assistantly places mid-to-senior operators in executive assistant, operations, marketing, client experience and finance roles across nine industries. Every candidate completes a Day One™ simulation of the role's work, reviewed by a person, before you meet them.
Proof before you meet anyone
You describe the role on a call, and we build a Day One™ simulation around it. A person on our team reviews every result, and you meet your top three. BELAY recommends one match, met on a kickoff call.
A published price range
Most full-time roles cost $2,500 to $3,000 a month, and senior or specialized roles run higher. That monthly number covers sourcing, the simulation, contracts, payroll, compliance, benefits, a success team, a 90-day plan, and the guarantee (pricing).
Pay is built around the person
Each operator sets their own rate, and you see it before you interview. We add benefits, including health coverage and paid time off, with no hidden markups. Operators who set their own rates are more likely to stay.
Someone checks early
Every hire shares a Fresh Eyes™ review at two weeks: bright spots, friction named specifically, and the ideas they would act on, seen by your team and ours. More checks follow on fixed dates through 90 days. BELAY's guarantee starts when you raise a concern; this starts on the calendar.
A guarantee that doesn't expire
If a hire ever stops being the right fit, we find you a new one, for as long as you work with us.
Placements that last
98% of placements are still in role at six months.
Our talent is global rather than U.S.-based, drawn from more than 38 countries. A full-time Assistantly hire sits well below BELAY's estimated $7,280 to $7,960 a month for the same hours. The trade is geography for depth: you get one experienced person for your team's full working day instead of a block of U.S.-based hours.
More than 1,000 companies have hired through Assistantly, with 80+ client reviews on our reviews page.
“Compared to my previous experiences with Upwork and other platforms, Assistantly's service was consistently superior in every aspect.”
What to know before you choose Assistantly
- It's built for full-time roles. For 10 to 20 hours a week, BELAY's fractional model fits better.
- Talent is global, not U.S.-based. If the role strictly needs someone in the U.S., BELAY fits better.
- Placements start with three months. That gives a hire a real chance to deliver, and to become a valuable addition to your team. BELAY is month-to-month.
Which to choose
Hours and geography decide
The right choice comes down to how many hours you need, whether the assistant has to be in the U.S., and how much you want to see before you commit.
Choose
BELAY
If you want U.S.-based support from about 45 hours a month, you'd rather have one match recommended than interview anyone, and you may want bookkeeping or finance help from the same provider.
Choose
Assistantly
If you need a full-time operator who owns real work, you want to see a simulation of the role before you meet candidates, and you want a structured check two weeks in.
If the role has outgrown part-time hours and you don't want to pay U.S. rates for a full-time seat, that is what we built.
Book a free strategy call to scope the role, or read BELAY vs Time etc and BELAY vs Upwork if you are weighing BELAY against other part-time options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Assistantly and BELAY?
Both match you with a vetted assistant and stay involved afterward, but they sell different things. BELAY is a managed service that recommends one U.S.-based contractor, typically from 45 hours a month, and prices each engagement after a call. Assistantly places a full-time operator from a global talent pool at a published $2,500 to $3,000 a month, shows you three finalists and their simulation results first, and checks in at two weeks with Fresh Eyes™.
Is BELAY more expensive than Assistantly?
It depends on the hours. BELAY doesn't publish a price for assistant support; outside estimates put it at $42 to $46 an hour, so 45 hours a month is about $1,890 to $2,070, below Assistantly's range. A full-time workload at those rates is about $7,280 to $7,960 a month, against $2,500 to $3,000 for most full-time roles at Assistantly (our arithmetic on estimates BELAY hasn't confirmed).
How much does BELAY cost per month?
BELAY quotes assistant support after a discovery call and bills a flat monthly fee; support “typically begins at 45 hours a month.” At outside estimates of $42 to $46 an hour, that start comes to roughly $1,890 to $2,070, and 20 hours a week to about $3,650 to $4,000. BELAY does publish two social media packages, starting at $2,070 a month for 45 to 60 hours and $4,500 a month for 60 to 100 hours. Its own cost guide puts U.S.-based virtual assistants in general at $1,200 to $3,000 a month for part-time support.
How much does Assistantly cost per month?
Most full-time roles cost $2,500 to $3,000 a month, set by the person's rate plus benefits, and senior or specialized roles run higher. The number is on every finalist's profile before you interview, and it covers sourcing, the simulation, contracts, payroll, compliance, benefits, a success team, a 90-day plan and the guarantee.
Are BELAY assistants employees or contractors?
Contractors. BELAY describes its assistant roles as “flexible, remote 1099 roles” and says “only 3% of applicants ever become BELAY contractors.” All of them are U.S.-based. With Assistantly, contracts, payroll, compliance and benefits are handled for you.
Does BELAY require a contract?
No long-term contract. BELAY's FAQ says support “runs month-to-month, not on a long-term contract, and you can scale hours up or down as your needs change.” Assistantly placements begin with a three-month commitment, which gives the match time to take while the two-week and 90-day checks run.
Can you interview your assistant before you start?
At BELAY, there is no slate: BELAY recommends one match and you meet them on a kickoff call. At Assistantly, yes: you meet your top three finalists, each with their Day One™ simulation results and their rate on their profile, and you choose.
What happens if the assistant isn't a good fit?
BELAY resolves mismatches through its Right-Fit Guarantee: a rematch “at no extra cost,” with the process tied to “concerns raised within 30 days,” and rematches “typically handled in days rather than weeks.” It doesn't publish a refund policy. Assistantly replaces a hire who stops being the right fit for as long as you work with us, and the Fresh Eyes™ review at two weeks is designed to catch a weak match before you have to raise it.
Where are Assistantly's assistants based?
In more than 38 countries. Every candidate goes through background screenings, video interviews and a timed simulation of the role before being matched to your leadership profile. BELAY places only U.S.-based assistants, which is the right call if the role strictly needs someone in the U.S.
What is the best alternative to BELAY?
For part-time, U.S.-based hours, BELAY's closest alternatives are other U.S.-based hour-plan services; see our BELAY vs Time etc comparison. For a full-time operator, Assistantly is built for that middle ground: mid-to-senior talent who complete a Day One™ simulation before you meet them, with most full-time roles at $2,500 to $3,000 a month. For more options, see our guide to BELAY alternatives.
Proof over Promise
See the work
before you meet the person
Tell us the role, and we'll show you who can actually do it.
There's no commitment until you choose who to hire.